Amador County - A Pioneer woman died after a vehicle collision involving four other vehicles on Sunday, according to a release from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). At approximately 4:24 p.m., Ruth J. Neal, a 75-year-old Pioneer woman, was reportedly driving a 1999 Dodge while heading west on Tabeau Road. As she headed eastbound on Highway 88, she began driving erratically while rounding a right-hand curve before drifting across the double-yellow lane divider into the opposite lane and oncoming traffic. Her vehicle struck two other vehicles headed in the opposite direction. Another vehicle driven by a fourth driver swerved to avoid the oncoming Dodge and ran off the right side of the road and approximately 300 feet down an embankment. The 75-year-old Neal was transported immediately to Sutter Amador Hospital but succumbed to her injuries. The CHP determined she was not using her safety belt. Another woman, Amber Griffin, 38, of Livermore, also went to the hospital with minor injuries. Two of her passengers, both minors, claimed no injuries. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calaveras County – As reported previously on TSPNTV.com, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office mobilized all available officers in the Valley Springs area 2 days before Christmas after a string of vehicle-on-vehicle drive-by shootings damaged 4 vehicles, with all drivers apparently escaping serious injury. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dave Seawell said authorities were investigating 4 vehicle shootings that occurred Tuesday, December 22, and a drive-by shooting that occurred about 6 days before. Seawell said the Calaveras sheriff’s office was investigating the incidents as “random shootings.” Four motorists were shot at on Tuesday, December 22, as they were driving in the Valley Springs area. At approximately 5:15 a.m. that day, a 37-year-old female was on her way to work traveling north on Hartvickson Lane near Partridge Road when the glass on the driver’s side window of her vehicle shattered. The victim pulled to the side of the road and discovered a bullet hole in the driver side door just below the window. The victim reported she did not see any vehicles pass her. Seawell said at about 5:45 a.m., a 49-year-old female was traveling west on Highway 12 near Evans Road when she heard a loud bang. The victim thought her vehicle kicked up a rock that struck the vehicle. The victim later discovered her vehicle had a bullet hole in the driver’s side passenger door. The victim reported she had passed a vehicle that was traveling east on Highway 12 but could not provide a description due to it being dark. At 5:55 a.m., a 52-year-old female was traveling east on Highway 26 near St. Andrews Road when her vehicle was shot. Deputies recovered a bullet that had traveled through the vehicle’s hood and lodged in the engine compartment. The victim reported a vehicle had passed her heading west but she could not provide a description due to it being dark. At 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, a 37-year-old male was traveling west on Highway 26 near Jenny Lind Approach Road when a bullet was shot through the driver’s side window of his vehicle. The bullet exited through the passenger side window. The victim said he had passed a vehicle heading east on Highway 26. The victim said he saw a flash as the vehicle passed and then his windows shattered. The victim told deputies he pulled to the side of the road and noticed the vehicle he had passed had stopped. The victim, fearing for his safety proceeded to drive out of the area. The victim described the suspect vehicle to be a light colored, late model sedan. The sheriff’s office is also investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred on or about December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road in Valley Springs. It is unknown whether the drive-by shooting is related to the shootings that occurred on Tuesday, December 22. Investigators have recovered bullets from the shootings and can confirm all of the bullets are similar and came from a small caliber weapon. Seawell said investigators have not found a link between the victims or a motive for the shootings. There have been no reported injuries. In response to the shootings the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office called in all available personnel to patrol the Valley Springs area. The office urges anyone with information regarding the case to call the sheriff’s public line at 754-6500 or the anonymous tip line at 754-6030. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A Pioneer woman died after a vehicle collision involving four other vehicles on Sunday, according to a release from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). At approximately 4:24 p.m., Ruth J. Neal, a 75-year-old Pioneer woman, was reportedly driving a 1999 Dodge while heading west on Tabeau Road. As she headed eastbound on Highway 88, she began driving erratically while rounding a right-hand curve before drifting across the double-yellow lane divider into the opposite lane and oncoming traffic. Her vehicle struck two other vehicles headed in the opposite direction. Another vehicle driven by a fourth driver swerved to avoid the oncoming Dodge and ran off the right side of the road and approximately 300 feet down an embankment. The 75-year-old Neal was transported immediately to Sutter Amador Hospital but succumbed to her injuries. The CHP determined she was not using her safety belt. Another woman, Amber Griffin, 38, of Livermore, also went to the hospital with minor injuries. Two of her passengers, both minors, claimed no injuries. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - While most of California is seeing a downward trend in the amount of toxic releases, pollution from Amador County and much of the Sacramento region is on the rise. According to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Amador County and Sacramento County showed increases in toxic releases in 2007 and 2008. Amador County’s contribution can mostly be attributed to the SierraPine company, consistently considered to be one of the region’s largest polluters. In 2008, the company released more than 100,000 pounds of methanol and 15,000 pounds of formaldehyde- chemicals it uses to make particle board. The company also released approximately 51,000 pounds of the same chemicals from its Rocklin plant. In that same year, Sacramento County facilities released 460,420 pounds of chemicals, which increased to 505,649 in 2008. Some of the region’s biggest polluters include D & T Fiberglass in Sacramento, Siligan Can Company located in Sacramento’s old Campbell’s Soup factory, Procter & Gamble, Grafil Inc., a carbon fiber manufacturer on Fruitridge Road, and the Blue Diamond plant in downtown Sacramento. The main pollutants in California include ammonia, lead, asbestos, zinc compounds and nitrate compounds. Nationally, toxic releases decreased by 6 percent compared to the previous year, from 4.1 billion pounds to 3.86 billion pounds. EPA officials say these numbers are a good indicator when asking questions about air and water pollution on a local level. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors on December 22 chose District 5 Supervisor Brian Oneto as their new Board Chairman and District 1 Supervisor John Plasse as new Vice Chairman. The official appointment will take place during the board meeting today, January 5. In an interview Monday on TSPN, District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster, a former chairman himself, said Oneto has “been there, stepped in and shown that he can run the meetings and…be in a position of leadership.” Also during the meeting, the board appointed Forster to serve Amador County on two committees. Supervisor Forster was chosen by a caucus of the 2009 Region Delegates and will serve with the three Officers and the Immediate Past Chair as the 2010 Region 5 representative for Amador County on the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) Executive Committee. The Bylaws state that annually at its December Board Meeting or the last regular meeting of the calendar year the RCRC Board shall elect the Executive Committee. Supervisor Forster will also serve on the Keep California Beautiful Committee which is a collaborative effort to ignite individuals, state and local governments, communities, and corporate responsibility through strategic initiatives and volunteer action to preserve and protect California's beautiful natural resources for generations to come. Forster was also appointed to serve on the California State Association of Counties (CSAC). The committee is responsible for developing and reviewing policy on environmental and resource issues that affect county operations and local economies. Supervisor Forster has been selected by CSAC to represent Amador County in this regard. Forster told TSPN he is “looking for good things (with CSAC) and more review and analysis of things like the Wiliamson Act in the future.” In a press release, the county stated they are pleased with these appointments and congratulate Supervisor Forster on his accomplishment. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Amador County is among more than half of California counties set to receive part of $26.5 million designated to fight In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) fraud in California. Amador County received $20,046 immediately. Tuolumne County will receive $55,218 and Calaveras County will get $27,901 in financial support once specific program plans are figured out. “I promised to fight fraud and abuse in California's In-Home Supportive Services, which assists some of California's most vulnerable citizens. Today, I am proud to announce $26.5 million in awards that will help root out fraud in this program," said Governor Schwarzenegger. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars are inappropriately or fraudulently expended through the IHSS program each year, affecting nearly half a million Californians. Types of IHSS fraud include identity theft and illegal solicitations. Schwarzenegger fought to include anti-fraud proposals in the 2009-10 budget. “Any fraud in our system is too much and, now more than ever, every dollar must count. We estimate a significant return on our investment in this budget year alone and that is very good news not only for taxpayers but especially for the Californians that rely on the resources provided by this important program,” he said. Program reforms include targeting mailings to high-risk or suspect providers, background checks and fingerprinting for all IHSS providers, enhanced anti-fraud training for county social workers, unannounced home visits, increasing the number of state fraud investigators, and prohibiting the use of P.O. boxes to receive provider checks. According to the Governor’s office, these anti-fraud efforts are expected to result in General Fund savings of $130 million in the 2009-10 budget. 29 counties received funding just before Christmas and another 16 will receive funding once plans are completed. There is no word yet as to the specific use of the funding allocated for Amador County. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.